Metallic Hister Beetle vs Braconid Mummy Wasp

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Metallic Hister Beetle Braconid Mummy Wasp
Scientific Name Saprinus semistriatus Aphidius matricariae
Order Coleoptera Hymenoptera
Family Histeridae Braconidae
Size 3-5 mm 1.5-2 mm
Habitat Farmland Farmland
Diet Carrion Feeders Parasitoids
Regions Europe, North Africa, Western Asia Europe, Asia, North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Metallic Hister Beetle

A small beetle with a metallic blue-green sheen found on carrion and sun-dried carcasses. It is frequently used in forensic entomology studies.

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Did You Know?

Its predictable arrival timeline on corpses makes it a valuable indicator for forensic investigators estimating time since death.

Braconid Mummy Wasp

A small parasitoid wasp specializing in green peach aphids and other crop pest aphids. It is commercially reared for biological pest control.

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Did You Know?

Females can detect which aphids have already been parasitized and avoid wasting eggs on them.